ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the changes of astrocytes and expressions of bcl 2 and bax in neuron apoptosis in facial nerve nucleus after facial nerve transection in rats Methods A total of 72 rats were equally divided into normal control, and facial neurotmesis groups. Six rats were killed 3,7,15,21,30 and 60 d after transection respectively and same amount of rats were killed in same time interval in the control group. Brain samples were taken from the aboue mentioned rats and the facial neuron apoptosis was detected with TUNEL, and expressions of bcl 2 and bax and changes of GFAP in the astrocytes of facial nerve nucleus were studied with immunohistochemical methods and image analyses separately Results The apoptotic peak of facial neurons and remarkable expression of bcl 2 and bax appeared in 15 d after the facial neurotmesis, while the expression ratio of bcl 2/bax were the lowest Meantime, the reaction of the astrocytes(GFAP)was remarkable, too All the changes were statisfically significantly compared with the control groups ( P